Wire wrapping tool

ABSTRACT

An electric power driven tool for making a solderless connection between a wire and an electrical terminal by wrapping the wire in successive convolutions about and in intimate engagement with the terminal. A wrapping bit is indexed to the proper point for quick, easy insertion of the wire and operates positively and quickly to reduce the time required for the complete wrapping cycle.

United States Patent 11 1 Coss 1451 Feb. 20 1973 1541 WIRE WRAPPING TOOL3,172,517 3/1965 Moore ..242 7.17 t 2,914,261 ll/l959 Barnes v..l4()/l22 [75 1 Rmmld 3,243,130 3/1966 Rebcchini ctal "242/7117 [73]Assignee: Standard Pneumatic Motor Company, Whittier, Calif. PrimaryExaminerLowell A. Larson Nov. Attorney-J. Carroll Baisch 1 1 pp NW86,091 57 ABSTRACT An electric power driven tool for making a solderless[52] US. Cl ..140/l24, 242/7.17 connection between a wire and anelectrical terminal [51] Illl. Cl. ..]321f 15/04 y pp g the i inSuccessive convolutions about [58] new of Search 152 5 and in intimateengagement with the terminal. A 2 2/ 1 ll 8 wrapping bit is indexed tothe proper point for quick, easy insertion of the wire and operatespositively and [56] References and quickly to reduce the time requiredfor the complete UNITED STATES PATENTS pp y 2,649,121 8/1953 Reck..140/124 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures WIRE WRAPPING TOOL BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto power operated wire wrap tools for making a connection between a wireand an electrical terminal by wrapping the wire in successive turnsabout and in intimate engagement with the terminal.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are various tools for wrappingwire onto electric terminals and these tools conventionally include arotary driver for rotating a bit which is disposed within a sleevemember, the bit being provided at its forward end with a longitudinalrecess for reception of the terminal upon which the wire is to bewrapped and with a radially offset longitudinal groove for the receptionof the wire. In operation of the tool, the bit is rotated and the wireis withdrawn from the groove as it is wrapped onto the terminal.

However, there are certain problems in indexing the bit so that thegroove for the free end portion of the wire to be wrapped on theterminal will always be in the same position when the bit comes to rest,so that time is lost in locatint the groove to insert said end portionof the wire thereinto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a housing witha pistol grip handle. There is a rotatable bit disposed in a tubularsleeve, said bit having a longitudinally extending bore in its forwardend for reception of a terminal on which wire is wrapped, and there is aradially offset longitudinal groove for the reception of the wire.

An electric motor is disposed in the housing for driving the bit, therebeing a clutch between the motor and the bit. A trigger operated switchcontrols the motor. The motor and the bit are completely disengaged whenthe motor is shut off.

The bit is rotatably disposed in a bit sleeve which has a portion of theforward free end flared to serve as a guide to aid the operator ininserting the wire into the longitudinal groove in the forward end ofthe bit. The bit is provided with a cam which is operably engaged by aball bearing assembly mounted on the switch actuating trigger and whenthe bit is disengaged from the motor the roller acts on the cam toalways index or position the groove of the bit in a predeterminednormal, inoperative position, whereat it is registered with the flaredportion of the bit sleeve. Thus, the operator will know exactly wherethe groove is located for reception of the end portion of the wire to bewrapped about the terminal.

Thus, the invention indexes the wrapping bit to the proper point forquick, easy insertion of the wire and operates positively and quickly toreduce the time required for the complete wrapping cycle.

Other advantages of the invention are the elimination of impact when themotor is started and there is the proper torque for wrapping the wireonto the terminal. Further, there is no harsh action and lessmaintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawings, which arefor illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the wire wrapping tool embodying the invention,portions being broken away and in longitudinal section to show theinterior construction of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front end view of the mechanism as seen from line 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the tool comprises an outer housing, indicated generallyat 10. The housing comprises two halves which are secured together by asuitable number of screws, some of which are shown and indicated by thereference numeral 12.

In the upper part 16 of the housing 10 an electric motor 18 is operablymounted. The upper part 16 of the housing extends forwardly andterminates in a reduced diameter part 20. A key 19 keeps the motor fromrotating.

Within the housing and forming a part thereof is a flange 22 and a lug24 at the front end of the motor 18, there being a gear case 19 in whichare operably disposed a plurality of gears 26, 28 and 30, of well knowncharacter, gear 30 being an idler gear. These gears operably connect thedrive shaft (not shown) of the motor 18 with a drive spindle 32 carriedby a ball bearing assembly 34 mounted in the gear case and against theflange 22.

On the drive spindle 32 is a driver 36 secured to said spindle by meansof a roller pin 38, or by any other suitable means. At its front end thedriver 36 has a plurality of annularly spaced teeth 40 which extendlongitudinally forwardly. Drive spindle 32 extends forwardly of thedriver 36 on which a tubular bushing 42 is disposed, the rear end ofsaid bushing being provided with annularly spaced, longitudinally andrearwardly extending complimentary teeth 44 adapted to be engageablewith the teeth 40 of the driver 36. Normally, the teeth 40 and 44 areout of engagement with each other but are adapted to be brought intoengagement, as will be described hereinafter.

A rear portion of a tubular output spindle 46 is disposed within aforward end portion of the bushing 42, said rear portion of the outputspindle 46 being slidable longitudinally within the bushing 42. On arear portion of the bushing 42 is secured an index cam 50 which issecured to the bushing by means of a dowel pin 52, or the like, said pinextending through aligned openings provided therefor in a forwardlyextending hub 54 of the index cam and the bushing. The pin 52 alsoextends through diametrically positioned slots 56 provided therefor inthe output spindle, said slots permitting the cam 50 and the bushing 42to be moved longitudinally or axially on the driver and the outputspindle, the latter being held against longitudinal or axial movementbut being rotatable with said cam 50 and is octagonal in cross sectionand is received in a correspondingly shaped recess 64 in the rear end ofa driver 66, there being an annular groove 68 in the recess 64 forreception of a ball 70 urged into said groove by a spring 72 providedtherefor in a cross bore 74 in the octagonal part of the output spindleto releasably retain the output spindle and the driver together. Aretaining ring 73 in an annular groove 75 in the output spindle holdsthe latter against forward dis diameter part 20 of the housing, saidsleeve holder haw ing a longitudinal bore 78 into which the driver 66extends. A spacer 79 is disposed between the outer race of the ballbearing assembly and the adjacent ends of the sleeve holder.

Arr outer end portion 80 of the sleeve holder is of reduced diameter andexternally threaded for reception of a sleeve nut 82 of a chuck,indicated generally at 84, which includes the usual jaws 86 actuated intl'le cs uidc mcans r r a bare w scrted into :1 r v 98 w ch xt gltudinal ly From the forward en d of the bit. The flared portion 96 extendsfrom the free end of the bit sleeve but a short distance rearwardly sothat the major portion of groove 98 is within the cylindrical part ofthe bit sleeve. The forward end of the bit also has an axial bore 99thereinfor reception of an electrical terminal.

The rear end of the bit has a part 100 semi-circular in cross sectionthat is received in a bore 102 in the adjacent end of the driver. Acorresponding recess is provided at the inner end of the bore forreception of said part 100 to provide a positive driving connectionbetween the driver and the bit.

Housing 10 has a depending pistol grip handle which is hollow and inwhich is secured a micro switch The switch is secured by any suitablemeans such as screws, not shown, and includes a movable switch lever 114adapted to actuate a movable switch member 116. At the front of thehandle 110 is a trigger lever l 18 having a part 118a which extendsdownwardly in the handle and which is pivoted on a pin 120 adjacent itslower end.

Handle 110 has an opening 122 at its upper, forward end through whichextends the trigger portionl24 engageable by the operators finger. Thisportion of the trigger lever has a bore 126 at its inner side forreception of one end portion of a spring 128, the opposite end of saidspring being disposed in a bore 130 provided therefor in the lug 24, itbeing noted that the lug and adjacent part of the trigger are normallyspaced apart and the lug serves as a stop means for the trigger whenactuated by the operator.

At its upper end the trigger lever has a ball bearing assembly 134mounted to said trigger by a bearing pin 136, the axis of said ballbearing assembly being substantially vertical and the outer race 1340 ofthe ball bearing assembly 134 is yieldingly urged by spring 128 intoengagement with the cam surface of the index cam 50. The movement of theindex cam by the spring 128 is limited by engagement of the dowel pin 52with the forward ends of the slots 56 which is the normal position forthe index cam.

There is a spring l42 disposed in the bore 144 of theoutpunpmdclowdlpldcdwdpinthndads on all pin to urge the bushing and theindex can no wardly. The forward end of said spring 142 engages a wall,not shown, at the inner end of said bore 144.

Spring 128 is stronger than spring 142 and when the trigger is releasedspring 128 moves the bushing 42 and index cam forwardly into its normalposition whereat the teeth 44 of the bushing are out of engagement withthe teeth 40 of the driver 36 so that the bit is not rotated by' Chemotor, said teetl'x com rising clutch means.

There is a power co ted rd 146 adapted to be cont-sec power, said 0rdradial groove When the cam 50 is in its normal rest position whereat theteeth 44 of the bushing 42 are disengaged from the teeth 40 of thedriver 36, the outer race 134a is in the groove 140C. The index cam isat its normal or forwardmost position, being moved and held there by thespring 128 against the force of spring 142. The grove 98 is then alignedwith the flaring part 96 of the bit sleeve and the bare end portion of awire to be wrapped about a terminal is inserted into said groove 98 andthe adjacent insulated part is turned into one of the notches 154 tothereby anchor the wire.

The terminal is inserted into the axial bore 99 in the free end of thebit, whereupon the trigger is actuated clockwise to thereby move theball bearing assembly 134a rearwardly and away from the cam face of theindex cam. Spring 142 then moves the index cam 50 and the bushing 42rearwardly so that the teeth 44 of said bushing move into the spacesbetween the teeth 40 of the driver 36 and engage said teeth. Clockwisemovement of the trigger also effects closing of the switch 112 tothereby supply electric power to the motor 18 and energize same toeffect rotation of the bit force of spring 142 and thereby disengage theteeth 44 of the bushing 42 from the teeth 40 of the driver 36. Shouldthe ball bearing assembly 134 be positioned against the cam face of theindex cam annularly from the radial groove 1400, the pressure or forceprovided by the spring 128 will cause the ball bearing assembly 134 toexert pressure on on the particular inclined part of the index camagainst which it is positioned and effect rotation of the index camuntil the outer race of said ball bearing assembly enters the groove1400. Rotation of the index cam will stop at this point whereat thegroove 98 of the bit 95 is in register with the flaring part 96 of thebit sleeve and permit easy insertion of the next bare part of wire to bewrapped about a terminal. The above-described procedure is followed towrap the wire onto another terminal.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof orsacrificing its material advantages,=the arran gement hereinbeforedescribed being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to berestricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except asdefined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A wire wrapping tool, comprising:

A. a rotary bit B. indexing means operably connected with said bit,

said indexing means having an angular index position related to anangular position of the bit;

C. a motor having an energized condition and a deenergized condition;

D. a clutch means having an engaged position and a disengaged position;

E. motor and clutch control means for controlling the motor and theclutch, said control means having a pair of positions, and when at oneposition the clutch is disengaged and the motor deenergized and when atthe other position the clutch is engaged and the motor energized;

F. a part on said motor and clutch control means engageable with saidindexing means and, when said control means is at said one position,said indexing means is at said angular index position;

G. means yieldingly urging the clutch to the engaged position;

H. and yielding means urging said control means to said one position.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the motor and clutchcontrol means, when moved to said other position, first effectsengagement of the clutch and then effects energization of the motor.

3. The invention defined by claim 1, including a cylindrical bit sleevein which said bit is rotatably mounted, said bit sleeve having anarcuate portion at the free end flared radially outwardly, the bitsangular indexed position being related to said flared portion of the bitsleeve.

4. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the indexing meanscomprises a bit sleeve having a flared portion at the free end, and thefree end of the bit has a peripheralgroove extending longitudinallyrearwardly, said groove being at the bits angular index position withthe flared portion of the bit sleeve, said flared portion of the bitsleeve serving as a guide for the insertion of a wire into said groove,an inner end portion of said groove being in a cylindrical part of thebit sleeve, there being notches in the free end of the bit sleeve at theannular ends of said flared portion.

5. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the means yieldingly urgingthe clutch to the engaged position is weaker than the yielding meansurging said control means to said one position.

6. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein the clutch has a pair ofparts, one of said parts being held against longitudinal movement whilethe other of said parts being movable longitudinally into and out ofengagement with the one of said parts; and the indexing means isconnected with said movable part for rotation therewith and has limitedlongitudinal movement relative to said other clutch part; said meansyieldingly urging the other of said clutch parts to the engaged positionacting through said indexing means for effecting longitudinal movementof said movable clutch part into engagement with the one clutch part.

7. The invention defined by claim 5, wherein the indexing meanscomprises an indexing cam with a cam face which has a radial groovetherein and a ridge annularly spaced from said groove, the cam facehaving annular parts inclined from the ridge to the groove, the part onthe motor and clutch control means engaging said cam face for exertingpressure thereon for effecting rotation of said cam to the angular indexposition whereat said part rests in said radial groove.

8. The invention defined by claim 7, wherein the motor is an electricmotor adapted to be connected to a source of electric current, and thereis a normally open electric switch for controlling electric current tosaid motor, said control means closing said switch when said controlmeans is in its other position.

9. The invention defined by claim 8, wherein the clutch means comprisesa part connected to the motor and having a plurality of forwardlyprojecting annularly spaced teeth and a part connected with the bit andhaving complementary annularly spaced teeth projecting rearwardly towardthe first mentioned teeth and adapted to be received in the spacesbetween the first mentioned teeth, said clutch being disengaged when thefirst and second mentioned teeth are disengaged from each other, andsaid clutch being engaged when the teeth are positioned for. engagementwith each other.

10. The invention defined by claim 7, wherein the part on the motor andclutch control means for engaging the cam face of the indexing camcomprises a ball bearing assembly, the outer race of said ball bearingassembly engaging said cam face.

1 l. A wire wrapping tool, comprising:

A. a hollow housing;

B. an electric motor disposed in said housing;

C. a rotatable, tubular driver operably connected to said motor androtated thereby, said driver comprising a clutch part held againstlongitudinal movement and having a plurality of annularly spacedforwardly extending teeth;

D. a tubular bit sleeve secured to the forward end of said housing, saidbit sleeve having a circumferential part of its outer end flaredoutwardly;

E. a bit rotatably disposed in said bit sleeve, said bit having aperipheral groove extending fromthe forward end longitudinallyrearwardly and an axial bore in the free end of said bit extendinglongitudinally rearwardly;

F. a drive spindle within the tubular driver and extending forwardlythereof;

G. a tubular bushing having a rear portion mounted on a forward endportion of the drive spindle and normally rotatable thereon, saidbushing having a plurality of rearwardly extending annularly spacedteeth adapted to be moved into the spaces between the teeth of thedriver;

H. an output spindle connected with said bit, said spindle being axiallyaligned with said drive spindle and having a bore extendinglongitudinally from the rear end, said output spindle having a pair ofdiametrically arranged longitudinally extending slots;

1. an index cam secured to said bushing, said cam and bushing beingsecured together by a pin which extends through the slots in said outputspindle for limited longitudinal movement of said bushing and index camrearwardly for engagement of the teeth K. a trigger lever in the housingpivoted at its lower end and having a ball bearing assembly at its freeend, the outer race of said ball bearing assembly being engageable withthe cam face of said index cam- L. yieldingmeans urging the triggerlever in a M. a normally open electric switch for the motor,

said switch being in said housing and positioned for actuation by saidtrigger lever for closing said switch upon actuation of said triggerlever to relieve pressure on the ball bearing assembly on the cam faceof the index cam.

of said bushing with the teeth of said driver, said The invenlliondefined by claim whfirein index cam being circular with a rear Sidedefining a tuatron of the trigger lever by an operator relieves the camface having a radial groove and a radial ridge pressure of the ballbearing assembly on the cam face annular), Spaced from Said groove,parts of Said to permit the first mentioned yielding means to move facebeing inclined from Said ridge to said groove; the bushing teeth intoengagement with the driver teeth before closing the switch.

J. yielding means urging said index cam and. bushing

1. A wire wrapping tool, comprising: A. a rotary bit B. indexing meansoperably connected with said bit, said indexing means having an angularindex position related to an angular position of the bit; C. a motorhaving an energized condition and a deenergized condition; D. a clutchmeans having an engaged position and a disengaged position; E. motor andclutch control means for controlling the motor and the clutch, saidcontrol means having a pair of positions, and when at one position theclutch is disengaged and the motor deenergized and when at the otherposition the clutch is engaged and the motor energized; F. a part onsaid motor and clutch control means engageable with said indexing meansand, when said control means is at said one position, said indexingmeans is at said angular index position; G. means yieldingly urging theclutch to the engaged position; H. and yielding means urging saIdcontrol means to said one position.
 1. A wire wrapping tool, comprising:A. a rotary bit B. indexing means operably connected with said bit, saidindexing means having an angular index position related to an angularposition of the bit; C. a motor having an energized condition and adeenergized condition; D. a clutch means having an engaged position anda disengaged position; E. motor and clutch control means for controllingthe motor and the clutch, said control means having a pair of positions,and when at one position the clutch is disengaged and the motordeenergized and when at the other position the clutch is engaged and themotor energized; F. a part on said motor and clutch control meansengageable with said indexing means and, when said control means is atsaid one position, said indexing means is at said angular indexposition; G. means yieldingly urging the clutch to the engaged position;H. and yielding means urging saId control means to said one position. 2.The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the motor and clutch controlmeans, when moved to said other position, first effects engagement ofthe clutch and then effects energization of the motor.
 3. The inventiondefined by claim 1, including a cylindrical bit sleeve in which said bitis rotatably mounted, said bit sleeve having an arcuate portion at thefree end flared radially outwardly, the bit''s angular indexed positionbeing related to said flared portion of the bit sleeve.
 4. The inventiondefined by claim 1, wherein the indexing means comprises a bit sleevehaving a flared portion at the free end, and the free end of the bit hasa peripheral groove extending longitudinally rearwardly, said groovebeing at the bit''s angular index position with the flared portion ofthe bit sleeve, said flared portion of the bit sleeve serving as a guidefor the insertion of a wire into said groove, an inner end portion ofsaid groove being in a cylindrical part of the bit sleeve, there beingnotches in the free end of the bit sleeve at the annular ends of saidflared portion.
 5. The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the meansyieldingly urging the clutch to the engaged position is weaker than theyielding means urging said control means to said one position.
 6. Theinvention defined by claim 5, wherein the clutch has a pair of parts,one of said parts being held against longitudinal movement while theother of said parts being movable longitudinally into and out ofengagement with the one of said parts; and the indexing means isconnected with said movable part for rotation therewith and has limitedlongitudinal movement relative to said other clutch part; said meansyieldingly urging the other of said clutch parts to the engaged positionacting through said indexing means for effecting longitudinal movementof said movable clutch part into engagement with the one clutch part. 7.The invention defined by claim 5, wherein the indexing means comprisesan indexing cam with a cam face which has a radial groove therein and aridge annularly spaced from said groove, the cam face having annularparts inclined from the ridge to the groove, the part on the motor andclutch control means engaging said cam face for exerting pressurethereon for effecting rotation of said cam to the angular index positionwhereat said part rests in said radial groove.
 8. The invention definedby claim 7, wherein the motor is an electric motor adapted to beconnected to a source of electric current, and there is a normally openelectric switch for controlling electric current to said motor, saidcontrol means closing said switch when said control means is in itsother position.
 9. The invention defined by claim 8, wherein the clutchmeans comprises a part connected to the motor and having a plurality offorwardly projecting annularly spaced teeth and a part connected withthe bit and having complementary annularly spaced teeth projectingrearwardly toward the first mentioned teeth and adapted to be receivedin the spaces between the first mentioned teeth, said clutch beingdisengaged when the first and second mentioned teeth are disengaged fromeach other, and said clutch being engaged when the teeth are positionedfor engagement with each other.
 10. The invention defined by claim 7,wherein the part on the motor and clutch control means for engaging thecam face of the indexing cam comprises a ball bearing assembly, theouter race of said ball bearing assembly engaging said cam face.
 11. Awire wrapping tool, comprising: A. a hollow housing; B. an electricmotor disposed in said housing; C. a rotatable, tubular driver operablyconnected to said motor and rotated thereby, said driver comprising aclutch part held against longitudinal movement and having a plurality ofannularly spaced forwardly extending teeth; D. a tubular bit sleevesecured to the forward end of said housing, said bit sLeeve having acircumferential part of its outer end flared outwardly; E. a bitrotatably disposed in said bit sleeve, said bit having a peripheralgroove extending from the forward end longitudinally rearwardly and anaxial bore in the free end of said bit extending longitudinallyrearwardly; F. a drive spindle within the tubular driver and extendingforwardly thereof; G. a tubular bushing having a rear portion mounted ona forward end portion of the drive spindle and normally rotatablethereon, said bushing having a plurality of rearwardly extendingannularly spaced teeth adapted to be moved into the spaces between theteeth of the driver; H. an output spindle connected with said bit, saidspindle being axially aligned with said drive spindle and having a boreextending longitudinally from the rear end, said output spindle having apair of diametrically arranged longitudinally extending slots; I. anindex cam secured to said bushing, said cam and bushing being securedtogether by a pin which extends through the slots in said output spindlefor limited longitudinal movement of said bushing and index camrearwardly for engagement of the teeth of said bushing with the teeth ofsaid driver, said index cam being circular with a rear side defining acam face having a radial groove and a radial ridge annularly spaced fromsaid groove, parts of said face being inclined from said ridge to saidgroove; J. yielding means urging said index cam and bushing toward saiddriver; K. a trigger lever in the housing pivoted at its lower end andhaving a ball bearing assembly at its free end, the outer race of saidball bearing assembly being engageable with the cam face of said indexcam; L. yielding means urging the trigger lever in a direction to effectoperable engagement of said ball bearing assembly with said cam face andnormally hold the index cam and bushing in a position whereat the teethof said bushing and the driver are disengaged; M. a normally openelectric switch for the motor, said switch being in said housing andpositioned for actuation by said trigger lever for closing said switchupon actuation of said trigger lever to relieve pressure on the ballbearing assembly on the cam face of the index cam.